Prior to Friday’s game in Pittsburgh, Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie relayed his thoughts on shifting to second base to make room for Juan Francisco’s bat in the lineup:
“I’m really trying not to think about it, I’m just trying to think of it as a permanent overshift just for today I guess. It’s just to help the team I guess.
“No, it’s not like riding a bike because the speed of the game in the big-leagues is so much faster. I’m a third baseman, I’m not a third base/second base type of guy. I’m a third baseman and that’s my position. I’m not necessarily going over thinking I’m going to be Chase Utley tonight, I’m going to go try to make the routine play and try to roll a double play if we can. It’s for the team and if we can get an extra bat in there and it gives us a chance to win, then that’s what it has to be.
“I’m not uncomfortable about it, it’s just I’m a third baseman and I don’t necessarily like going across the diamond and playing second base because I’m not a second baseman, that’s not what I’m here to do. I’m here to play third base, but if it helps the team, then that’s what I’m here to do, I’m going to go grind it out, have some fun and see what the day brings. For the most part, I enjoy third base, that’s my position and that’s what I enjoy.
Over shift help? “I guess so, yeah. It’s a different mindset because the overhsift, I know I’m going there in deep right field but I know I’m going right back to third base. Today it’s permanently at that position. I enjoy playing the game when I’m not thinking. Second base, you’re worried about double plays, worrying about all these different things, where I’m doing my best when I’m not thinking at all. But it’s part of it, I’ve done it before, so no excuses, I’m going to go out there, go play hard and we’ll see what happens.
– With files from Shi Davidi